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. 2022 May:130:107176.
doi: 10.1016/j.chb.2021.107176. Epub 2022 Jan 4.

How does information overload about COVID-19 vaccines influence individuals' vaccination intentions? The roles of cyberchondria, perceived risk, and vaccine skepticism

Andreawan Honora  1 , Kai-Yu Wang  2 , Wen-Hai Chih  1
Affiliations

How does information overload about COVID-19 vaccines influence individuals' vaccination intentions? The roles of cyberchondria, perceived risk, and vaccine skepticism

Andreawan Honora et al. Comput Human Behav. 2022 May.

Abstract

This research proposes and tests an integrated model to explain how information overload influence vaccine skepticism and vaccination intention. In addition, this research investigates the effectiveness of using a celebrity endorsement strategy in promoting vaccination and compares its effectiveness with other endorsement types. A survey study (Study 1) was conducted to examine the mechanism underlying the impact of the COVID-19 vaccine information overload on vaccine skepticism that, subsequently, affects vaccination intention. It also examined the moderating role of celebrity endorsement trustworthiness. The results indicate that information overload positively influenced vaccine skepticism through cyberchondria and perceived risk of the vaccine, which subsequently reduces vaccination intention. The negative effect of vaccine skepticism on vaccination intention was weakened by the celebrity endorsement that was considered trustworthy. A follow-up experimental study (Study 2) was performed to compare the effectiveness of celebrity endorsement with other endorsement types (i.e., government official and medical expert endorsements). The results showed that the celebrity endorsement was more effective in mitigating the negative effect of vaccine skepticism on vaccination intention compared to government official and medical expert. The findings provide practical insights into how governments can minimize people's vaccine skeptical views and increase their vaccination intentions.

Keywords: Cyberchondria; Endorsement; Information overload; Perceived risk; Vaccination intention; Vaccine skepticism.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Overall conceptual model.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Results of study 1.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
The moderating effect of type of endorsement on the relationship between vaccine skepticism and vaccination intention.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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